Pritiko Stretches Points Lead With Win

By: Ryan Dyson | APC Racing Series | August 17, 2019 at 9:15pm

INNISFIL, ON - The penultimate event on the 2019 season for the APC Series saw the tour return to Sunset Speedway for the AP Emissions Technologies 100 presented by Pennzoil. 28 cars were in attendance, meaning a last chance qualifier would be necessary for the third straight event this season. With Matt Pritiko and Shae Gemmell separating themselves from the field in the championship race, both looked to gain an advantage on the other while ensuring those behind did not close the gap heading to Delaware. The MacMaster of Orangeville Rookie of the Year battle tightened up after Sauble Speedway’s doubleheader weekend with Danny Benedict entering the AP Emissions Technologies 100 just seven points behind Jo Lawrence.

Group qualifying would start the evening as all drivers looked to lock themselves into the show with a top 18 qualifying effort. Rookie driver Jo Lawrence would top the field for the third time this season, putting down a 14.377. Treyten Lapcevich, Josh Stade, Matt Pritiko, and Jordan Sims would round out the top five qualifying spots.

The last chance qualifier saw several full-time drivers in the field, including Billy Schwartzenburg, Shawn Chenoweth, Patrick Freel, and Hudson Nagy, who all took a provisional to make the main event. Tom Gibbons would lead every lap in the race, locking himself into the main event along with Jamie Cox, Nick Goetz and James Horner. Blair Wickett and Tyler Di Venanzo would unfortunately be sent home as the two drivers missing the show.

The AP Emissions Technologies 100 presented by Pennzoil started with Jordan Sims on the pole alongside former series champion Dale Shaw. Shaw would use the momentum on the high side to get the early lead. Lap seven saw contact between Andrew Gresel and Josh Stade that almost resulted in the two going around in front of the majority of the field.

Lap eight was disastrous for championship contender Shae Gemmell as JR Fitzpatrick tangled with Josh Stade and several cars piled in. As everybody tried to slow down, Gemmell was tagged hard in the right rear and was forced to the pits. The team would make repairs and limp around for several laps before retiring from the race with a 25th place result.

The race would get into a rhythm after the restart as Dale Shaw continued to show the way up front. 42 laps into the race Matt Pritiko would move into second place as he looked to maximize on Gemmell’s early troubles and all but solidify his first career APC Series championship.

As the halfway point came it was still Dale Shaw up front with Pritiko now pressuring for the lead in lapped traffic. Treyten Lapcevich moved into third spot on lap 56, making a three wide pass on Jordan Sims. Shaw would surrender the top spot on lap 69 after Matt Pritiko got to his inside and cleared him between lapped cars. Pritiko would open up a sizeable gap over the rest of the green flag run that saw the race run to completion with a 92 lap green flag run. Lapcevich would get close to Dale Shaw but would settle for third in the end.

Pritiko would visit Robert Q victory lane for the third time this season and open up a near clinching championship lead in the process. Dale Shaw, Treyten Lapcevich, Jake Sheridan and Jordan Howse would round out the top five finishing spots.

The APC Series’ season will conclude on Saturday, September 14th at Delaware Speedway with the annual running of the 100 Kellogg Championship Race presented by Maple City Tire. More information about the event and advance tickets can be found on www.DelawareSpeedway.com. APC Series teams are wished the best of luck at Jukasa Motor Speedway’s Canadian Short Track Nationals on Labour Day Weekend before returning to series competition at Delaware.